Obamacare: POLITICO reports Texas, administration in talks for $100 million

POLITICO is reporting that Texas health officials are in talks with the Obama administration about accepting an estimated $100 million available through the Affordable Care Act to care for the elderly and disabled.

Health aides for Gov. Rick Perry, who opposes the health law, are negotiating with the Obama administration on the terms of an optional Obamacare program that would allow Texas to claim stepped-up Medicaid funding for the care of people with disabilities.

The so-called Community First Choice program aims to enhance the quality of services available to the disabled and elderly in their homes or communities. Similar approaches have had bipartisan support around the country. About 12,000 Texans are expected to benefit in the first year of the program.

One line of thinking as to why the Texas governor, who has honed his national image in no small measure by denouncing Obamacare, would make such a seemingly inconsistent move goes like this: Treating disabled and elderly people is less politically charged than a sweeping national law forcing people to buy health insurance. Perry recently decided against seeking reelection next year but is mulling a second presidential bid in 2016, Perry spokesman Josh Havens said in a statement that the governor has long sought to help people with disabilities.